Power Vacuum
04 Jun 2016BaseKillerWolf
It seems the galaxy has been spun on its head recently. Engineers pumping out weapon modifications, aggressive power factions, space traffic control… it's gotten to a point where wings are the standard method of travel. I recently had to drop my power alliance with Hudson. I still support the guy and the Federation as a whole, but if I were to keep up with faction activities, I’d either be in the poorhouse or the grave. I plan to keep up a few… subtle activities to help some of the Hudson supporters, but I’m not going to paint a target on my back anytime soon. Of course, some people think that credits can change a person’s allegiances. Case in point, a certain comms link that I received while docked at Vernadsky Port…
“Incoming communications link from Imperial Captain Kreger. Would you like me to connect you, Commander?”
“Ugh. Probably more wet work. Fine, patch him through Niriand.” I groaned as I waited for the video link to connect. Once the link was connected, I was greeted with a smiling visage of the middle aged captain in his immaculately clean office.
“Greetings Commander BaseKillerWolf. I trust the void is treating you well?”
“Spare me the small talk Kreger. You've got that look in your eye like a miner who’s just found a field of Painite”
“Right. Down to business. Word of you leaving Zachary Hudson’s faction has reached the Empire. We’ve seen your dedication, Commander, and we’re prepared to offer you a place within the ranks of The Shield of Justice”. Kreger must have spent all night concocting a way to get me to join Empress Duval. He probably had a 12-step plan in his head for this very conversation.
“So, you want me to spit on all the work I’ve done for Hudson and turn my back on the Federation? All for some extra fortification at the end of the week?” I retorted, adding a bit of a sneer for added effect.
“We wouldn’t ask you without a form of payment of course. We’re prepared to fast-track you to higher ranks within the week. You would be receiving bounty bonuses by noon tomorrow, once you fill out the required paperwork. Also, we would be prepared to offer you a fully equipped Imperial Courier, free of charge.” He attempted to conceal his prideful smile with his coffee mug, but couldn’t hide it for very long.
So this was Kreger’s ace in the hole. Credits and bonuses, all in a lucrative amount of time. It’s a shame he didn’t read about why I left the faction war in the first place.
“While that’s all very tempting, I’m going to pass on it, Kreger. I don’t like working for people who attack innocent explorers as they pull into stations.”
“Explorers attacked as they pulled into stations? Whatever do you mean?” Kreger’s pride vanished as it was replaced with concern and bewilderment.
“Garay Terminal in the Deciat system. Did your ‘Shield of Justice’ report shooting down a gold Asp Explorer as it entered the mail slot?” I snapped back.
“They reported firing on a criminal that was attempting to breach the station. They had told station security to hold fire to avoid-“ Kreger cut himself off, right as his face turned quite pale. “Commander, had I known that the Shield was firing on innocents I’d have-“
“Given them a damn promotion? A nice fat bonus in their paychecks? I had to reboot the ship in the mail slot since my thrusters were damaged. I’m glad there was a Clipper pilot who managed to pull me into the station as I ejected, otherwise I might as well be dead. Where the hell do you get off Kreger, asking me to join your ‘Shield of Jackasses’ with a bunch of criminals on a government paycheck?!”
Kreger thought for a minute, leaving an awkward silence over the comms link. Finally, he spoke up.
“I apologize for the incident, Commander. Please understand that these Shield members will be punished to the full extent of the law, as well as the Shield’s code. Should you revisit the thought of joining the Shield, I will keep my offer open, bonuses and all.”
“Take your offer and stick it in a black hole, Kreger. We’re done” With that statement, I slammed the ‘End transmission’ button before Kreger had time to open his pretentious mouth again. “Niriand, prep for launch and plot a course for the nearest Resource Extraction Site. I need to take some stress out on some pirates” I sighed, trying to push the ordeal with Kreger out of my head.
“Affirmative Commander.” The AI responded, with a hint of support in its voice. Time to send some pirates to the scrapyard.